Poll: WASD or Arrow Keys?

[Eclectic Dreck]

In my early days (actually, this period lasted a VERY long time) I used an. . . unconventional control set. I used my right mouse button for forward (because it was the default for Duke Nukem 3D), and them 'M' ',' and '.' for back, strafe left and strafe right. Now I tend to use WASD in shooters.

I have been known to use joysticks and gamepads for certain games (in fact, for MW4 I used both joystick, gamepad AND rudder pedals). Mostly though I just use the default controls with some tweaks to mouse sensitivity.

 

[ElephantGuts]

WASD all the way. Look at all the other keys around it! You've got Q, and CTRL, and X, and Z, and Shift, and all those pretty numbers up there...Oh, and also F. Can't forget about F. What do the arrow keys have around them? Jack shit. Big ugly keys with big ugly space all around them.

 

[Lord_Of_Plum]

WASD, but that's probably because I've rarely used arrows.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I didn't click one because I'm a lefty. So on a desktop (where I can slide the keyboard over) I use the arrows but on my laptop I use WASD because I can't move the keyboard over.

 

[KeithA45]

WASD

With the game's major functions in spiral pattern out from those keys.
exceptions being equipment is always 1-9 whilst crouch/sprint/prone/jump always sit it ctrl, shift, alt, space.

I used to use arrow keys, but ended up using this at a LAN party and never stopped.

Exactly how I feel with one addition: "E" is usually "interact" and I reserve TAB for special moves/weapons/etc that are individual to the game

 

[Sewblon]

I used arrow keys when I was a kid but I switched to WASD when Serious Sam came out because I had learned to type.

 

[Ranooth]

I used arrow keys when I was a kid but I switched to WASD when Serious Sam came out because I had learned to type.

Same here, also with WASD your closer to CTRL and Shift which are kinda needed in most FPS on hard mode

 

[thegamermn]

It depends on the game, if I need to use the mous AND the keyboard, then I use WASD, otherwise I use arrow keys

 

[NXMT]

I used to be a devout arrow key user, until suddenly and without explaination a few years ago, I switched to WASD and have not looked back.

When I was younger, I was all about the arrow keys... but then when games started to pretty much NEED WASD then I switched to that and it works great for pretty much anything.

Same here. I used to fumble with WASD then I started using it one day and going back to the arrow keys has never crossed my mind since. I don't know bout you guys but I still struggle to press the right numbers and have to resort to the mouse wheel often.

 

[MiketheBassMan]

Up until the release of the first Half-Life game, I used arrow keys. Back then, in games like Wolfenstein:3D, Duke Nukem 3D, Doom, and even Quake, you simply didn't need or expect analog input. In Half-Life, you were suddenly expected to use the mouse, to aim both horizontally and vertically. Games that came before had only required that you get pretty close horizontally, and your character would aim up or down on his own. Additionally, you had more function keys, needing to walk, crouch, jump, operate a flashlight, move and strafe, reload, select weapons, &c., and do it fast. Using the arrow keys no longer made sense because you could not aim precisely and move effectively.

Once I switched, there was no going back.

 

[Kiroshimatsu]

Depending on the game I'll use both. WASD is the best for shooters and other such games with a zillion keys that are required to play the game well. RTS's I find myself using the arrow keys instead of the mouse to move around the map.

 

[The Shade]

My mouse has two small buttons on the side for easy access by the thumb, so I use this arrangement:

Movement: Arrow keys
Fire: LMB
Secondary Fire: RMB
Jump: Large aux. mouse button
Reload: Small aux. mouse button
Change weapons: Roll mouse wheel
Use: Numpad 0
Crouch: Ctrl
Light: Space

This set-up is mostly for when playing Half-Life, but you get the idea.

 

[Vlane]

My mouse has two small buttons on the side for easy access by the thumb, so I use this arrangement:

Movement: Arrow keys
Fire: LMB
Secondary Fire: RMB
Jump: Large aux. mouse button
Reload: Small aux. mouse button
Change weapons: Roll mouse wheel
Use: Numpad 0
Crouch: Ctrl
Light: Space

This set-up is mostly for when playing Half-Life, but you get the idea.

This heavily differs from what I use.

Movement: WASD
Fire: LMB
Secondary fire: RMB
Jump: Q
Reloda: R
Change weapons: Roll mouse whell
Use: T
Crouch: E
Light: F

It's easier for me to play this way.

 

[Shadow Tyrant]

WASD, ctrl to crouch, space to jump, shift to sprint, tab to interact, E to reload, Q for previous weapon, F to call for medic and/or flashlight. LMB primary fire, RMB secondary fire.